Ambikā

Bhishma takes the sisters to Hastinapura

Ambika was the daughter of king Kashya of Kashi. She was the sister of Ambalika and Amba. Her hand was won in a competition by Bhishma and she married Vichitravirya, king of Hastinapura, along with Ambalika. She was the mother of Dhritarashtra and grandmother of the Kauravas. Vichitravirya died without leaving children so the sage Vyasa, son of Satyavati (former queen dowager of Hastinapura) visited both widows and impregnated them with Vichitravirya's legal heirs. Ambika was frightened of Vyasa and kept her eyes closed. Thus, her son was born blind.

After Pandu became king, Ambika, along with Ambalika and Satyavati, went to a forest retreat where they remained for their final days.

Family

Kuru Genealogy in Hindu mythology

Names in bold are kings of Hastinapura

Chandra                                       Budha                                       Seven generations                                       Dushyant                                       Bharata                                       Bhumanyu                                       Six generations                                       Kuru                                         Viduratha                                       Bhimasena                                       Pratipa                               Ganga   Shantanu       Satyavati                                                                       Bhishma     Chitrangada                                           Subala   Ambika             Vichitravirya   Ambalika     Shurasena                                                                                                             Shakuni   Gandhari   Dhritarashtra   Madri   Pandu     Kunti                                                                                                                                 Duryodhana   Kauravas   Nakula     Sahadeva       Karṇa                                                                                                     Draupadi       Yudhisthira                                                                                                                       Bhima     Rohini   Vasudeva   Devaki                                                                                                                           Arjuna   Subhadra   Krishna                                                                                                         Abhimanyu                                                                                       Parikshit                                                                                       Janamejaya

Preceded by: Satyavati

Queen of Hastinapura (with Ambalika) Mythic

Succeeded by Kunti